Duluth police officer faces possible assault charges

DULUTH, Minn. - A Duluth police officer will likely face charges for excessive force during an incident at detox center last month.

Officer Richard Jouppi has been a member of the department for two years. He is expected to be charged with 5th degree assault after hitting an intoxicated man several times on September 21.

An internal and independent investigation began immediately following the incident.

Surveillance video from the detox center shows Officer Jouppi assisting 50-year-old Tony Jackson, a man police had picked up for fighting and drunkeness. Once inside the center, the video shows Jackson taking a swing at Officer Jouppi. It's at that point, Officer Jouppi responds with what the Duluth Police Department calls behavior that "violates our policies and procedures."

Officer Jouppi was disciplined once before for interfering with an investigation.

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